The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-10-26

Louis was going to sail for Europe in
few weeks, and that she would not see
him again for long, long time. In fact
the peculiarly morbid disposition of the
young man had finally become repellent
to her bright nature, and though she was
always affectionate and kind to him, she
felt, unconsciously, a certain degree of
relief in the thought of his absence.
"You must not forget me Grace" he
said, fervently, at the moment of her de-
parture. And the young girl answered,
gayly: "No fear Of that, Louis. Even
if you never write to any of US, shall
always remember you. For you are my
cousin, you know-iust the same to me
as one of my brothers"
Louis was about to utter some protesta-
tion respecting this announcement on
Grace's part; but a significant touch on
his shoulder from the hand of Mr.. Mars
den recalled that genteman's stern pro-
hibitions, and he contented himself with
kissing with fervor the little hand that
Grace frankly placed within his own,
unheeding the fresh young face that was
held up to him for a parting salute.
''liow odd you are, Louis, not to kiss
me good-bye!' - she cried, gayly, as she
sprang into the carriage; remember, you
must write your first letter from Rome to
me. And be sure you tell me what you
think about st. Peters and the Colosse-
um. / wish l were going with you to
see them ALL"
'lf you only were !" muttered Louis, as
the carriage drove away. "There goes
my guardian angel, and must go forth
alone to meet the demon"
A few weeks later Louis Seabrook
sailed from New York for Europe. He
did not fail to write to Grace more than
one impassioned love-letter shortly after
his arrival but the child, perplexed, un-
sympathizing, and half provoked with
what she called "Cousin Louis's fool
ishness," made no response to
his fervent protestations. Louis took
the hint, and the correspondence there
after was conducted on a more tranquil
footing. To this change a sharp reproof
from Mr.. Marsden, and a treat of forbid
ding altogether any interchange of let
ters, probably contributed largely. The
traveller wrote but seldom, but he often
sent tokens of regard and remembrance
to his uncles family, and especially to
Grace One of these was fine copy of
the celebrated portrait of Caesar Borgia,
by Raphael, which is one of the noted art
treasures of the Borghese Palace. And
in the strangely beautiful face, with the
evil tendencies of the inner nature look
ing from the large eyes and curving the
full red lips, Mrs. Marsden recog-
nized with shudder strong re-
semblance to the countenance of her
nephew. Indeed, he alluded to the
likeness of himself in one of the infre-
quent letters received from him during
his soiourn in Rome. 81 must be a true
descendant of the Borgias," he wrote,
''for my likeness to the Raphael portrait
has been commented upon even by total
strangers, and when l went to see my
great grandfather, DR.. Marini, when
passed through Milan, the other day, his
first exclamation on beholding me was,
'You are like your mothers race BY
the-way, what wonderful old man he is
have promised to pay him long visit
on my way back to Paris, and he tells me
that he will then confinc to my keeping
sundry family relics of great Importance.
/ confess that | am very curious to see
him. He is nearly ninety years old now,
but preserves all his faculties unim-
paire t."
A few months later Louis wrote that
the promised visit had been paid,
and that DR.. Marini had placed in his
hands some curious and antique objects,
several of which had at one time be-
/ longed to the famous family of Pope
/ Alexander Borgia. Amongst these" he
wrote, sis an ivory casket of exquisite and
arti tic workmanship. 1t possess certain
/ singular properties which shall describe
when we meet" Next came the news
OF the death of the old doctor, who had
seemed to have lived thus long for the
express purpose of bestowing his cher
ished heirlooms on his great-grandson
and sole direct descendant.
The two years that had been fixed a'
the period of young Seabrook's absence
had nearly come to an end, and he hao
already written to announce the date al
which he would sail for home, when ht
received from Mrs. Marsden the news o.
/ Grace's engagement to young ano
talented lawyer, Stuart Hastings by
name. The match was one that wa!
satisfactory in every way to Mr.. and Mrs
Marsden, and, to do them justice, they
had both looked upon the attachment OF
Louis for his cousin as mere boyisl
passion that had not survived the tests
of time and absence. This letter received
no response, but Louis wrote a few hurried
lines to Grace, declaring his intention o
being present at her marriage. "And tC
prove TO my pretty cousin that | bear he
no malice for the way that she has triieC
with my Affections he wrote:'I viii
bring her wedding present such as few
brides in this nineteenth century hay,
ever seen.n
But it was not till the day before tina
fixed for the ceremony that Louis mad
his appearance at the house of his aunt
He received "a warm welcome from Mrs
Marsden, who had always looked upol
him as one Of her own children.
"You have grown tall and manly
Louis, - she suid, after the first greeting
were at an end, "but you look wild
haggard and feverish. Are you suffer
ing from malaria2 You must not fall il
on the very day of your return-the ev
of Graces wedding day. Your playmat
of bygone days would feel sorely grieve,
if you were not to be present to-mor
row."
"Ah yes-where is Gracel-I had for
gotten Grace ~ the young man responded
hurriedly Il want to see her-I hav
my Weddin9-oift ready for her and